Educating Rita - Explain how the director uses cinematographic techniques to realise the scenes which are not/only referred to in the text

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Introduction

Educating Rita Explain how the director uses cinematographic techniques to realise the scenes which are not/only referred to in the text Amidst today's high-budget, multi million pound cinema, there are a huge number of cinematographic techniques used for many different purposes. In the box-office hit, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which was directed by Mike Newell, the flying Horntail dragon and other mythical creatures, as well as the illusion of playing Quidditch on a magic, flying broomstick, are created using all kinds of advanced digital effects. In animated films such as Shrek, the characters are all computerised and enhanced, and are produced using extremely sophisticated equipment and the latest technology. As a low budget film, Educating Rita is not associated with these cinematographic techniques. Lewis Gilbert, uses very few of these techniques, although he does use them successfully. As Educating Rita is a realistic slice of life set in a Liverpudlian town, all of the amazing techniques in today's cinema are not needed so there is nothing fantastic about the film. However, Lewis Gilbert in 1983 uses the camera very effectively. While Willy Russell focuses on Franks study, Lewis Gilbert takes it outside and shows the viewers what is going on inside of their lives when they are not together. He uses the camera to emphasise certain ideas and to add depth to the scenes. ...read more.

Middle

At the party after the wedding, there is a close-up shot of the newly married couple showing how different Rita and Denny's relationship is to theirs. The camera deliberately, once again, focuses on children, some sneaking sips of alcohol, and others as bridesmaids. This is done to constantly remind us about the significance and value of children in the working-class culture. Lewis Gilbert has created this for a purpose as it has absolutely nothing to do with the text. Gilbert uses a full shot of Denny and Rita dancing alongside the other couples. This shows Denny's comfort in this atmosphere and Rita's sullen face and discomfort at the same time. There is a shot of Rita's father frowning to show that he is not at all happy with Rita's choice to pursue her education. As Denny issues his ultimatum to Rita, the camera moves away from Rita, leaving her an isolated figure. This symbolises that Rita is now drifting away from everyone who she used to consider her own. The end of this mise-en-scene is marked by the wedding cake being seemingly wedged between Rita and the audience; Rita being left amongst the hall of dancing couples. She is there but also not part of it. From Rita's expressions, we can see that she regrets her broken marriage but knows that she has made the right decision. ...read more.

Conclusion

The diegetic sounds of the academic middle-class talking shows how different Rita's two worlds are. There is a fixed shot of her running away from Frank's house which shows why she cannot join the middle class at this point. Rita, realising that she has not progressed enough in her education and in confidence, scribbles Frank a note saying 'sorry couldn't come', which could mean that she is no longer able to continue. Rita's journey back is just as difficult; it is still raining and we can hear the diegetic sound of thunder. When she reaches the pub, there is a different kind of diegetic sound as her family and friends sing along to the jukebox. As Rita looked in at the dinner party, she looks in at the pub, and through the cameras close up we can see that she doesn't want to be there either. Through Julie Walters' facial expressions, Rita does not need to say how she is feeling; we can see this through the full shot of Rita and she can't go backwards. Even though Lewis Gilbert uses only a small number of cinematographic techniques, and not the same ones as the big blockbusters of today, he has used them well to create a successful and effective yet realistic film out of Willy Russell's play, Educating Rita. They help to address and emphasise the issues and problems which Lewis Gilbert feels are important. ...read more.

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Frank points out to Rita that she didn't have an ugly voice and Rita returns to speak in her Liverpudlian accent. Rita tells Frank that Tiger, her student friend, has invited her on holiday to France. Frank instantly reacts with jealously and makes excuses of why she wouldn't be able to go, "You can't go-you've got your exams."

The different shots show different methods of showing the message of the play. The shots in both the characters homes helps the viewers get to know the characters better and helps the delivery of the message. All the extra clips of the characters also help us get a better prospective of both their lives.

She wants to learn and that's all she talks about and how it will change her but she never ever creates the right attitude to learn and she's never serious enough to study anything. Rita wants to be educated because she doesn't like the person that she is, and she wants to change it by being educated.

Although most of the details are small and subtle, they have a great impact on how the story portrayed. The movie offers much more background information on other characters and events that are important to the story. The play is much more restricted in the sense that a great many

In the final exam she thought about it, and analysed the question, giving an educated and substantial answer. With the picture Rita thinks about what it is suppose to represent after she has made a strong statement, "Look at those tits".

Higgins never asks for anything from Eliza; Frank is asking for more and more from Rita as the play develops. Considering this as a genuine issue would suggest that Frank is a slight insecure whereas Higgins tends to be more supercilious and thinks that he has no use for anyone

Frank is a tired, middle-aged man and he can see that the world is passing by but he cannot be bothered to do anything about it. He drinks to try and suppress this feeling: "Life is such a rich and frantic whirl that I need the drink to help me step delicately through it."